He was shod in patent leather slippers over his naked feet.

A rosary of heavy wooden beads hung by a round turn from his right wrist.

He sat down slowly in the place of honour, and, dropping his slippers, tucked up his legs under him decorously.
The improvised divan was arranged in a wide semi-circle, of which the point most distant from the fire--some ten yards--was also the nearest to Lakamba's dwelling.

As soon as the principal personages were seated, the verandah of the house was filled silently by the muffled-up forms of Lakamba's female belongings.

They crowded close to the rail and looked down, whispering faintly.